Q3 Last post for the semester

The social constructionist model of communication is a concept that I feel needs further discussion. I had a hard time grasping this concept. The other posts gave me a better perspective of this concept but I still would refer to this concept as somewhat in the twilight zone. It is hard for me to comprehend that “most of what we know and believe about the world comes to us through communication rather than through direct experience” (Trenholm, 2008, p. 30). I guess I have to be more mindful with my perspective of this concept and realize that it does not exclude direct experience, hence the word most.

Q2 Interesting Concepts

The concepts in the class that I found most interesting were the ones the dealt with interpersonal communication. I have always found it fascinating the different stages one experiences when developing a relationship. One particular concept I found interesting was relational development: stages in intimate dyads. The paths to and from intimacy was something that I have experienced myself and I am sure many of us have. For instance, the stages of coming together consist of initiating, experimenting, intensifying, integrating, and bonding. The initiating stage involves, initial impressions, observing cues about personality, attitudes, and willingness, and open communication channels. Experimenting is where couples find common ground to build their relationship. This is where most relationships stop. An aspect of the intensifying stage could be described as the usage of “we” or “ours” and may even complete each other’s thoughts. When they become a couple in both their eyes and others this is considered the integrating stage. Bonding in couples may incorporate marriage (Trenholm, 2008, p.153 -154). I have personally gone through all of these stages and the result: marriage.

Q1 Research Method

In my opinion ethnography as a research method is the most interesting. According to Trenholm (2008), “The researcher observes behavior in its natural setting….the researcher may actually “go undercover” as a participant…the researcher avoids imposing his or her own values and assumptions on the data…he or she allows conclusions to emerge from observation.

If I were researching deception between students communication with faculty a suitable research question would be; what excuse do college students use for turning in late assignments? I would use the survey research method to question faculty. It would be easier to question the faculty with a face-to-face interview and get generalized answers to see how far students will go to make excuses for late work. It would be interesting to research the student’s perspective through ethnography and see if the findings coincide.

Q3 Need Gratification

I found the concept of need gratification interesting. The research that has been done regarding this topic is now being used “to understand how consumers use the Internet and cell phones” (Trenholm, 2008, p. 310). The earliest study mentioned was by Herta Herzog on why women listen to radio soap operas. The outcome surprised me; I didn’t consider that the listeners used the soap opera for emotional release or advice on how to deal with their own problems. The channel of communication is radio not television which makes a difference. It does kind of disturb me that these women would use the soap operas for advice. I have watched soap operas and I would not use what I see as advice. Women poison their husbands, there is usually someone black mailing someone, and someone is pregnant but not buy their husband. I don’t know if the soap operas that were listened too on the radio were like the ones we see today on television but I sure wouldn’t use them for advice.

Question 2 Marshall McLuhan

I do agree with Marshall McLuhan that the medium is the message. Trenholm (2008) states, “he was expressing the beliefs that the channel through which a message is transmitted is as important as the message itself and that the channel, in fact, often determines which messages will be transmitted and which will be ignored” (p. 307).

This leads into McLuhan’s coolness factor. The usage of U.S. Presidents in the text was helpful in understanding this. JFK is considered “cool” enough to use the channel of television. He speeches were directed toward the audience’s issues not only was it what he had to say but his looks captured the audience as well. On the other hand Richard Nixon is classified as “hotter” his approach is to “hard-edged and direct” for television and would have probably achieved higher ratings if radio was the channel for his messages to the public. McLuhan’s idea of television as a “cool medium” is correct in my opinion. In fact our current President, Obama, has the coolness factor that allows him to be effective using television as one of the channels of communication.

Cyberspace Friendships

I have to say that I have not made friendships exclusively in cyberspace. I just recently joined facebook because of the communications department. I have to say that it has put me in touch with a lot of my cousins from my father’s side of the family. We all lost touch when my parents divorced and I was 5 years old. I believe that I am still cautious with making friends exclusively in cyberspace. I guess I need that f2f relationship. My husband tells me that I read too much into a person’s body language and expressions, you know non-verbal behavior and that is something you don’t get out of the communication process in cyberspace.

Concept of Interest: Sexual Harassment

There is one concept in the book that we haven’t discussed and that is sexual harassment. I think everyone should be aware of what sexual harassment consists of: “unwelcome sexual advances, request for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature… when submission to or rejection of this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual’s employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment” (Trenholm, 2008, p. 229). It is important to note that this can happen to males and females as well as being harassed by the same sex.

I found it interesting that our textbook makes note that the factors that show a higher degree of harassment are found in most colleges and universities. Some of the factors consist of “defining the normal employee as male”, “support systems for women and people of color are weak”, and “power relationships between superiors and subordinates are unequal”. I am employed at a college and I have heard of a few incidents between employees but I was surprised when I read it.